Three unanimous rulings issued Tuesday less than six hours after arguments let Missouri’s new congressional map take effect and shut down voters’ bid to block it.
More than 300,000 signatures had been gathered to force a referendum, but the court sided with GOP state leaders who refused to suspend the map before any statewide vote.
The court also rejected challenges to the map’s legality and district design, ending months of litigation over a plan critics say is gerrymandered.
One congressional district is now likely to flip to Republicans, strengthening a map passed by the Republican-led legislature and backed by President Donald Trump.
After a court ruling broke with precedent, what is the future of citizen-led referendums in Missouri?
Can 300,000 signatures still force a public vote on a law that is already in effect?